The Oregon State University brand has a variety of typographic tools that create a unique look and make us instantly recognizable. When they’re used consistently, these type treatments create continuity among families of materials.
Experience level: All users
Note:
Only black or white typography can be used when creating these treatments, as they result in tints or shades of values. Tints or shades of our color palette are not permitted.
Image Description: An isometric diagram illustrating a two-layer design technique. The bottom layer is an image or color field, shown as a grey rectangle. The top layer contains large text reading "Lorem Ipsum" set at 30–70% transparency, allowing the image beneath to show through the letterforms. The effect creates large, ghosted type that is visible but does not fully obscure the background layer.
A more complex type treatment is to place the image into an outlined type layer and apply an effect to change how the layers interact. Depending on the hues and brightness of an image, a range of different transparency effects can be used. The type layer should be roughly 15 to 50 percent opacity to ensure that the type feels integrated into the image.
Experience level: Intermediate Users, Experts
Note:
Only black or white typography can be used when creating these treatments, as they result in tints or shades of values. Tints or shades of our color palette are not permitted.
Image Description: An isometric diagram illustrating a two-layer design technique. The bottom layer is a base image, shown as a grey rectangle. The top layer contains large outlined text reading "Lorem Ipsum" where the interior of each letterform is filled with a clipped portion of an image — so the image appears only within the shape of the letters. The result is type that reads as a window into a photograph rather than solid or transparent text.
The most complex type treatment integrates type into the image with the foreground element of a photograph sitting in front of the typography. This creates a dynamic and engaging effect. Interactions between type and image can vary in complexity, but this technique should only be undertaken by a user who is fluent in Photoshop
Experience level: Experts
Note:
Only black or white typography can be used when creating these treatments, as they result in tints or shades of values. Tints or shades of our color palette are not permitted.
Image Description: An isometric diagram illustrating a three-layer design technique. From bottom to top the layers are: an image background, a type layer containing large text reading "Lorem Ipsum," and an image foreground. By placing part of the image in front of the type, the text appears to sit within the scene rather than on top of it, creating an illusion of depth where foreground elements of the photograph overlap and partially obscure the letterforms.
